“He’s 200cm and can mark the ball, he moves well and keeps his feet well, so we ­noticed him.”

With a football career that has taken him via Devonport, the Mariners, Glenorchy and Tasmanian’s senior state team, Brown was selected at No. 47 by the Kangaroos in last year’s November draft and made his senior debut in Round 14 this season against Melbourne at the MCG.

Since then he has played six games and kicked eight goals, and importantly for the Kangas they now have three tall options up forward and ready relief for Todd Goldstein in the ruck.

“He’s 200cm and can mark the ball, he moves well and keeps his feet well, so we ­noticed him.”

As Brown’s line coach, Watson has played a real part in big Brown’s development.

“His general footy nous and his footy smarts are very good,” Watson said.

“He’s a footballer rather than an athlete but he’s got athletic qualities as well.

“He leads well at the footy, marks strongly in the contest, and the good thing is that he generally keeps his feet in the marking contest and at ground level.”

It will be those qualities North Melbourne needs at Blundstone Arena on Saturday when it meets Adelaide, a team desperate to win to hold on to eighth spot on the ladder and a place in the finals two weeks later.

“It’s a big game. Adelaide need to win it to keep their fin­als hopes alive and we need to win it because we’re playing a top eight team in what will be a finals-like atmosphere,” Watson said.

“The good thing about Browny, because of his level headedness, is that he won’t get caught up in that hype.

“He will go out and just play his role for the team.”

Watson has worked to imp­rove Brown’s movement in order to take his game to the next level.

“His marking has always been his strong point, but he’s getting better at his ability to get off his guy and take a mark,” Watson said.

“He reads the cues of what’s happening further up the ground, and that was reasonable at VFL level, but as you go up a level you have to improve those subtleties in your game in terms of the qualities of the defenders you are on, and he’s been able to do that.”

Brown’s performance in North Melbourne’s win over the Bulldogs last weekend – 15 possessions, six marks, two goals, three goal-assists – was a personal high for the young Tasmanian.

“That was the strongest all-round performance of his games,” Watson said.

“We haven’t really seen him go to ground too often which is a real strength to have when you are 200cm.

“He won the ball at ground level at times and dished out some really good handballs to set up a couple of goals and he took a couple of strong marks and kicked a couple of goals himself.

“As a 200cm player, we just need him to mark the ball and kick goals.”

Brown has also spent time with the midfield group and ruck coach Alex Ishchenko working on stoppage strategies and tap skills for the times he relieves Goldstein.

“Some clubs have got 200cm ruckmen who can go forward, but we’re in a fairly lucky position where our 200cm guy is a key forward who can go in the ruck,” Watson said.

“He’s fitting in well, with the other two forwards, he’s playing his role and playing to his strengths.”